The Ministry of Defence has underlined the wide-reaching impact of the A400M Atlas aircraft on national security, skilled defence sector jobs, and the UK economy, according to a recent parliamentary exchange.
Responding to a question from Claire Hazelgrove, MP for Filton and Bradley Stoke, Defence Minister Maria Eagle provided insights into the aircraft’s operational and economic significance.
“The A400M aircraft entered service in 2014, primarily to provide tactical airlift and strategic oversize lift capabilities,” stated Eagle. Beyond this role, she explained, the aircraft is also committed to “24/7 national standby” and has supported operations such as maritime reconnaissance for the UK Border Force in the English Channel and long-range search and rescue missions.
On its contribution to skilled employment, Eagle highlighted the program’s local and national impact. “A400M wing production has sustained approximately 270 skilled jobs at Airbus’ Filton base, and it is estimated that almost 900 jobs have been sustained in the supply chain across the UK,” she said.
The aircraft’s economic contribution is also notable, with production adding an estimated £1.5 billion to the UK economy to date.
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The word TWADDLE comes to mind…
Why? Those are some pretty simple but true facts.
Then why not buy an extra twenty wings right now? We didn’t spend £1.5bn to subsidise 900 jobs. Even at COVID-subsidy rates, £1.5bn could have propped up 900 jobs for a full two generations. So why does the current Defence Procurement Minister trumpet it? We bought our planes because we needed the planes (parce Hercules fans) and the jobs were barely a secondary consideration of a bygone Conservative government. I’d much rather she sold the public on the need for Defence and the purchase of a few more planes (a couple of extra E-7s for example) than pretend it’s been some sort of economic growth stimulous or job scheme.
The MP wanted to big up his Filton constituency on the 10th anniversary of A400M being first deployed to Brize Norton, which had given it a raised profile, and this is nothing more than a puff piece response. I think Twaddle is a fair desciption. Maybe get a trade minister to advertise Airbus next time instead.
More aircrafts? , a british politician ?, better to welcome thousands of illegal inmigrants.
Agreed. That £1.5bn includes the _cost_ of employing people. The actual benefits are not enumerated in the pr release never mind the net benefits.
So can we take up the option of the 6 extra examples that was mooted some time ago please?
Very impressed with Ms Eagle so far. Her degree in waffle is really making her high profile.
Airframe hours on A400’s shouldn’t be wasted on operations for Border Force.
Ms Eagle did not write the reply. An advisor did. Quite possibly the same advisor who wrote the question for Ms Hazelgrove. I met someone once whose work was doing just that! It’s interesting how much dislike for Atlas there is on this site. Yesterday there was one doing beach landings at RAF Pembrey Sands and another flying through the Mach Loop. It may be big but it seems to get a wide range of jobs done and from the radar movements it seems to be providing a a high level of serviceability. Quite why the industrial impact is “twaddle” mystifies me, as that’s just obvious that there is a benefit. The value, is, as with all these things, a best a guess of course! With my nostlagia hat on I guess I would like to see a smaller transport as well – C27 or the Brazilian job, say. But then I happily remember flying in an Andover back in the 70s as an Air Cadet! It really was tiny compared with the Hercules, Argosy and Belfast I also flew in. But these old arguments are, it seems to me, increasingly out of date. We may have to accept that cargo drones are the future, and sooner than we think. These little drones didn’t exist 25 years ago.
Atlas is excellent capability. That is only going to get better.
This piece of Kit has taken years to sort out.
My main problem is it gifted the Grifters in Spain a way into the aero-industry. These people make a very small contribution to NATO and yet quietly they have been gaining entry to key projects. These are financed by rule breaking with the Euro and Government subsidy.
Meanwhile we have gutted our aerospace industry and AFV industry. First we should start building civilianlike military aircraft again. Secondly we have the AJAX which is an inferior vehicle to the almost standard BAE product.
Perhaps we should consider the Aero industry adopting the faltering steps taken to rebuild our ship building industry.
Think carefully before we encourage our competitors. Now we are independent post Brexit we can do more self finance of projects.
Let’s see if SDSR25 authorises the C130J replacement top up.
14× C130 = 8× A400.
Get them ordered and at least close one bloody gap!
The A400 has a woeful para capability for us. It can’t do more than a sim 10, if you watched the Arnhem jump it was even worse.
Can’t drop MSP
Can’t drop a wedge
CDS is pointless as it won’t cover the above in support of a para operation
And let’s talk about numbers – 22…. It’s laughable. During the Falklands there were 57 C130 used for the airbridge.
The MOD Should by C130 and put tac airlift under the AAC – the RAF are only interested in space, air superiority and strategic lift anyway
Ah, the airbrige – happy days